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How to Get a Veteran License Plate

March 18, 2013

A veteran license plate is a specialized type of license plate usually used by individuals who wish to show pride in their own military, national guard or reserve service, or by people who want to show their support for the nation's veterans. As with regular license plates, different states have their own requirements and procedures for obtaining a veteran license plate. In general, however, both are similar across most states. Though, before obtaining a veteran license plate, you need to know what kind of license plate you can apply for.

A) Standard Veteran License Plates

Most states have a standard veteran license plate that anyone can apply for. The plate typically displays the armed force or veteran service organization logo of the buyer's choice next to the license plate number. You also have the option of buying sequential plates, which cost around $30 per year, or personalizing your plate, for around $10. Usually, a portion or all of the proceeds from the sale of these personalized license plates go to veteran services in the state concerned.

Alternatively, most, if not all, states also offer special license plates to honor the services of selected kinds of veterans. Examples of these are the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart license plate, which honor Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, respectively. These special plates are usually not available for sale to the general public. They usually don't have issuance or registration fees and don't expire. They can only be applied to vehicles that are registered to the applicant, if the applicant is a co-owner or lessee of the vehicle, or the beneficiary of a trust that owns the vehicle.

D) Obtaining a Special Veteran License Plate

1. Provide proof of eligibility (DD214/DD215 Discharge from Military Service showing the award in question)2. Provide a photocopy of your Certificate of Registration

E) Disabled Veteran License Plates

Disabled Veteran license plates are another special type of veteran license plate. However, there are usually special requirements to obtain them. They are typically only issued to veterans who have been disabled during their service. A Disabled Veteran license plate qualifies the driver for disabled parking privileges; thus, there are usually a few more steps in the application process to prevent people from taking undue advantage of this type of plate.

As shown above, a veteran license plate can represent a number of different things. A veteran license plate can simply show your support to military veterans, pride in your own service, display your accomplishments as a former member of the service, or provide you with much-needed privileges. Whatever your use for a veteran license plate, they should not be taken lightly, as they are worth far more than the metal they are printed on.